DepEd to private colleges: Open own senior high schools

ABS-CBN News

MANILA - The Department of Education (DepEd) is encouraging private universities and colleges to set up their own senior high schools due to the adoption of the K+12 program.

Few students are expected to enroll as college freshmen in 2016 since K+12 program sees the addition of two more years in high school.

Some college teachers also fear losing their jobs due to the program.

With these, DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro said private colleges should open their own senior high schools.

"Instead of taking them (students) two years later, since they have the teachers and classroom, it's so seamless if they already start," Luistro told ANC on Tuesday.

Luistro said an estimated 400 universities and colleges have expressed interest in the proposal.

Meanwhile, he said the DepEd is now working with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to map out regions and provinces according to job vacancies and industry needs.

Luistro explained their challenge is to avoid having too many graduates from one course that would create a glut in available slots in the job market.

"We're working very closely with the DTI and DOLE so that we're able to map per region or province what are the needs of industry in the next three to five years."

"What we don't want is that every high school starts a beauty care type so that you have a whole barangay, municipality, you have 20 percent of your graduates doing beauty care. And then you end up frustrated because they don't have jobs," he said.

As the DepEd enters its fifth year under his watch, Luistro said they are keeping their sights set on providing quality education for all.

He admitted problems remain, but improvements have been made and more are on the way. -- With ANC